by Rachel George, USA TODAY Sports

by Rachel George, USA TODAY Sports

Florida coach Will Muschamp said eligibility was never an issue when defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd was adopted in December 2011. The Gators standout was suspended for two games at the start of that season by the NCAA after he accepted $2,500 and other benefits from Kevin Lahn.

As USA TODAY Sports reported on Tuesday, it was Lahn who adopted Floyd, who was then 20 years old, following the suspension.

"I never worried about any eligibility issues," Muschamp said on the SEC teleconference Wednesday. "Sharrif's a fine young man and everything's above board. The University of Florida has handled it, and Sharrif and Kevin Lahn."

At the time of Floyd's suspension in September 2011, Muschamp criticized the NCAA for punishing a player who overcame adversity in his upbringing. Floyd reported to Florida in February 2011 that he had accepted benefits from Lahn, who was then under investigation at South Carolina.

Lahn was ultimately disassociated from South Carolina by the school, his alma mater, for providing impermissible benefits to Gamecocks athletes and inducements to recruits.

Tuesday's story examined whether the path Lahn and Floyd chose lays a blueprint for getting around NCAA rules.

NCAA rules experts agreed adult adoption could be used as a loophole to provide benefits for athletes. Muschamp seems to disagree with that characterization, at least where Floyd is concerned.

"What is wrong with someone caring about someone else?" Muschamp said. "What it is so bad about that is my question. The young man has done nothing wrong. My statements speak for themselves in what I said a year ago, and I stand by it today."